The British Musical Biography

[E] Relfe, John, composer and writer, born
at Greenwich in 1763. Son of Lupton Relfe,
who was organist of Greenwich Hospital,
under whom he studied. He also studied
under Keeble. Member of King's Band of
Music, 1810. Teacher of harmony and pf. in
London, where he died, about 1837.

[W] Works. — Select set of airs for harpsichord
[1787] ; Progressive sonatas for the harpsi-
chord or pf. ; Lessons, songs, and duetts for
pf. ; Six divertimentos for pf., op. 8. Songs:
Come thou laughter-loving power ; Edwin
and Angelina ; Gardener ; Laplander's song ;
Mary's dream. Editor of M. Sharp's collec-
tion of original melodies [1827] . Guida
Armonica, or introduction to the general
knowledge of music, theoretical and practical,
London, 3 parts [1798]; reprinted as "The
Principles of Harmony, containing a complete
and compendious illustration of the theory
of music," London, 1817. A Muschedule, or
nmsic scroll, exhibiting an epitome of the
whole science of music," Camberwell [1800] .
Remarks on the present state of musical
instruction, with a prospectus of a new order
of thoroughbass designation, and a demonstra-
tive view of the defective nature of the
customary mode.., London, 1819. Lucidus
ordo : comprising an analytical course of
studies on the several branches of musical
science.., London, 1821.

[+] Relfe's " Guida Armonica " anticipated in
a large measure the method of Logier in
regard to instruction by exercises.

[+] His father issued " Hymns for the use of
the Chapel of the Royal Hospital, Greenwich,"
London, 1789; and "Greenwich Hospital
hymns and music," 1796.

entry id: 341-R-33